I just installed a home theater using windows 7. Does anyone know of a program that will allow me to put my computer to sleep and go on vacation for a week..... while allowing the computer to come back awake as needed to record preset recorded programs throughout the week? Basically come on record and then go back to sleep until the next preprogrammed recording.

Set 'Boot on power - (or equiv) in system bios so when power fails and UPS shuts system down, and power is restored, windows will boot and MCE will load and scheduled recordings will continue

Run gpedit from cmd prompt and go to: Computer Config, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, Accounts: Limit Local Account use of blank pws (change to disabled) - This allows Remote Desktop to Media Center with no passwords, since the password had to be blanked for un-attanded entrance into Media Center from sleep.

Make sure that there is no media playing when you are not around; in order for the computer to sleep in 2 hours

You will/may also want to check into Windows' advanced power configuration options for "Away Mode":

Away Mode is a Windows Vista feature that is designed for media PC scenarios. Away Mode enables the Windows Vista PC to appear off to the user, when the system is actually operational and processing background media tasks such as recording television content or streaming media to other devices.